No cases of COVID-19 have been detected at New Zealand's border nor in the community in the last 24 hours - the latest sign a scare in Wellington last month has come to nothing.
It comes as the Ministry of Health announces its plan for the return of Viking Bay, the ship revealed to be carrying two coronavirus-infected mariners earlier this week.
A ministry spokesperson said they were continuing to work through the logistics involved in its return to New Zealand's shores.
"Customs has advised the ship is expected to return to New Zealand early next week. Details including which port it will dock at are still being finalised and will be announced when confirmed," they said in a press release.
"The current plan is that crew onboard who are unwell will be taken off the ship using standard Infection Prevention and Control protocols, which involves the use of appropriate PPE. They will then be transferred to a quarantine facility.
"A health management plan will be put in place for those who remain on board the Viking Bay. This approach both manages the risk to public health as well as allowing the provision of appropriate medical assistance to the crew."
The spokesperson said further protocols and procedures will be put in place to "protect the safety and security of the Viking Bay" while it's in port and mitigate the risk of infection beyond the mariners.
The ministry said Customs and health officials are also continuing to monitor a second ship, reported on Friday, on which crew reported suffering "flu-like symptoms". The ship remains at sea for now.
"The immediate health needs of crew on both ships are currently able to be appropriately managed on-board," the ministry said.
On Friday, no community nor managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) cases were detected, however one historical case was reported - a person who arrived in New Zealand on July 1 from Russia via the United Arab Emirates.
Another nine COVID-19 cases were deemed to have recovered in the last 24 hours, which sees the number of active cases in New Zealand drop to 32. The total number of confirmed cases here since the start of the pandemic now stands at 2409.
Another 7051 tests were processed across New Zealand on Thursday - though this does not include Waikato DHB's figures due to the ongoing cyber attack.
